The schools rugby season rolls on at its own furious pace ...pushing everything and anyone out of its packed path. Mesmerized media types rub shoulders with our resident experts/pundits...hoping for some sprinkling of Intel, relevant facts or development regarding players and their closest..?
Potentially that spring is always flowing and full of huge opportunities for those who thrive on claptrap!
Traditionally it’s April and time to establish our playing pedigree based on pure performance in the early encounters, especially the big cup games ...either home or away.
Good to see the skills and level of work that stand the top teams apart from the others in the initial rounds, struggling to contain the more fluid front-runners...
Royal will be tested to the core by the Josephians, looking to set up their best season ever, and seem to have the class to do it......Havelock Park will burst at their seams ...a full house expected, both teams free of major injury concerns and hungry to get down to dominating play. Both unbeaten and fancy their chances to lead group 1A.
Friday 6 April @ Havies Stadium 4.30pm kick off.
The other humdinger is on Saturday, also at Havelock Park...where the green machine line up the Bamba brigade...for a traditional smash and grab affair....Isipatana v St Peter’s, both unbeaten and desperate to be the leader in group 2A.
Saturday 7 April @ Havelock Park 4.30pm kick off.
Early parking is advised, as the rush will be buzzing and thankfully the traffic won’t be an issue to consider.
Arguably the Trinity v S. Thomas’ match should also sparkle beyond the touchline ...expect a bit of a trek, but well worth the trip to Pallekelle...Saturday 7 April, 4.30pm.
Let’s leave the great expectations on hold and dive into some performance stats between the big 6 ...holding their own in the Singer league 2018 so far.
Great to see the Joe’s step up beyond conventional traditions and crunch a few acceptable standard results...especially their win against Trinity in Kandy...and spontaneous reactions under pressure.
Trinity for their unit work, looked solid in both the sets and in the open. Statswise pretty even on form ...but the telling lack of kicking and lapses in defence got Sheiks Lions into their first difficulty ...and the toughest pill to swallow at home.
But the result not isolated either...when a jubilant Kingswood held on for a win against Trinity and form last week 28-21...sheer disbelief.
Royal are into their stride, controlling play and dominating territory as per their set plan ...but all of that calm clear clinical set play, may be undone at the seams, and a less structured Joe’s get down to upsetting that Royal control in the middle.
Lewke will expect his boiler house boys to grind them in the front row and joy for cauliflower ears as proof ...in fact badges of courage for both front rows?
Royal will want to slow things and use their superior weight to max use all over the park.
Joe’s and Nilufer as coach, have seen them crash thru sides this season....can they maintain that momentum against a bigger and more rugby ready side like Royal?....Will they ignore the traditional form over so many years ...? Can their backs step it up and shine slice their opposite numbers from set play...? Do Joe’s have the pace to outrun Royal? Burning questions indeed!
Experts please stand up and roll those pundits knowledge dice ...tell us who will be buzzing on Friday, tell us how effective their game plans will be and is it all about strategy...or down to sheer heart and will to succeed....?.Reid avenue v Beira boys on a steamy Friday in the city by the sea at the Havies cauldron of pain....What a match it promises to be ...70minutes of absolutely no love lost and everything on the line ...rugby hearts, warm up and strength for the occasion!
Patanas green machine is all on traditional inspiration and whatever they are up against....an example of dedication and commitment that has been jealously guarded over many decades....
History will dictate that to play them and beat them is a massive task and always an achievement.
But Peters are buzzing this season and pre season prep with coach Martis, quite the thing to incite furious speculation.
Have they been tested? ...Is Patana quicker in the loose? Game plans and SPC discipline v Patana heart and hunger ...?
Either way it’s down to a 100% commitment from both units and full on pace from kick off to full time - 70minutes of oxygen friendly bubbling adrenaline to fuel the mind and body.
Spectators be warned, it’s not going to be smooth passage either way ...it’s all or nothing, and down to the wire.
What a fabulous break for our island schools warriors this weekend as April announces its arrival and the Singer league takes a week’s break.
Ideal time for teams to assess their performance, check on positions, efficiency, stats and strategy....most importantly, time for those injuries to heal plus some more time for recovery and rehabilitation.
One cannot emphasize more about the need for players and injuries to have their time on the table ...rest, recover, heal, ice bath, release, massage, switch off, recharge, revive and back in the middle...fresh and hungry ...Good calories and mind clear for maximum intensity.
School rugby is certainly our flagship and beacon of interest for fans, school kids, old boys and families to fanatically follow the code...if in doubt....zip along to Havelock Park for big leader clash groups 1A Joseph’s vs Royal......then 2A – Peter’s vs Patana.
The atmosphere is certainly beyond conventional and closer to electric for sure.
About time school rugby was eased away from the traditional stable of Ministry scrutiny and given a total professional overhaul from head to toe .....Sri rugby a bigger stake in the game and its future direction.
School rugby needs to evolve and give our warriors a fair shot at Asian domination for starters....the time has come, the walrus said ...
Enjoy the break islanders, stretch the mind, rest the body and muscles ready for the absolute intensity of matches lining up in April.
It’s an all or nothing theory...so pressure up for max confrontation...
Stay strong, mind up and hearts on fire.
Blessings and rest to all players this weekend.
Cheers islanders...Bula Bula Sri!
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